Things I do…Ballroom Dancing

Things I do…Ballroom Dancing

Ballroom dancing

Introduction

Ever thought.. “I’d love to dance” but just haven’t got around to it yet…well this is for you.  

Find out (nearly) all there is to know about Dancing…from Ballroom to Latin to Salsa to Argentine Tango to Swing…..there’s a style out there to suit everyone you just have to find
it.

It’s never too early in life … or too late … to start dancing…

And for those who “think” they have 2 left feet…whilst it’s a really good excuse, unfortunately it’s unfounded…anyone can learn… you just need to take lessons. 

So I spoke to Linda Drochmann who is a keen Ballroom Dancer .

How did you get into ballroom dancing?

I always wanted to dance but besides being very self conscious I didn’t have a lot of confidence.  But I thought I’d give it a try and went to a few Salsa classes, which were fun but not for me.  Being tall I always got the man’s part!  So then I went to a Ballroom Dance class and learnt the Waltz and that’s when I knew I had found my style of dance and my passion.

What different types of dance are there?

There are so many types of dancing out there – Ballroom, which consists of  Waltz, Foxtrot, Tango, Quickstep and Viennese Waltz. Ballroom Latin dance consists of Cha Cha, Rumba, Samba, Jive and Paso Doble.  Not forgetting the beautiful Argentine Tango – check
out the movie scene in “Scent of a Woman” with Al Pacino!

Then you have Salsa and Swing. Swing is particularly popular at the moment and it’s easy enough to learn the basics and so much fun, very popular for all ages.  It’s a really enjoyable way to keep fit as it’s pretty energetic.

Dancing is quite intimate. Did it make you feel uncomfortable?

To be honest I found everybody to be very welcoming. Age didn’t seem to matter. Being close to each other is part of dance and other people seemed very relaxed about it. That made me feel relaxed.

What sort of social life is associated with ballroom dancing?

In Dublin and all around Ireland you’ll find social dancing and lots of classes in which to learn whatever style you enjoy. One tip I would say is you need to go to classes for about 3 months
before you really get the feel of it but be warned.. after that it may become an obsession…but a good one!   If that happens you’ll want to improve and compete ….and that’s the next level.  There are Ballroom Competitions about once a month from Jan-June and Sept to Dec.  Yes, the dresses, the make-up, the tan, ..it’s like walking into a different world.

Any tips for someone who’s getting started?

Find a style you’d like to start with and then check out the different Dance Classes on-line – there are loads of group lessons so I’d recommend trying maybe the Waltz (which is slow) or the Jive, but it really is personal preference and you may need to try out a few before you find what you enjoy.  

Finally…

It’s given me confidence I’d never of dreamed of, I’ve made wonderful friends, enjoyed many dance holidays in the UK (Blackpool Tower) and Europe and my life is full because of it.

Once I step on a dance floor everything else fades away and nothing else matters except the music and the dance – and there’s no greater joy for me.  

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